CBSE Class 10 Answered

Sri Lanka became independent of colonial rule in 1948. There were two major communities—Sinhalese and Tamilians. The Sinhalese were in majority, and hence, after being elected to power, theSinhalese leaders followed a series of majoritarian policies in order to ascertain the supremacy of theircommunity. By an Act passed in 1956, Sinhala was recognised as the only official language of the country.Preferential positions in government jobs were given to the Sinhalese.

All these measures led to dissent among the Tamilian community which finally culminated into a civil war, with the Tamilians demanding the formation of an independent Tamil state in the northern andeastern parts of Sri Lanka. Thousands of people were killed in the civil war.